A sad realization just hit me.

The time has come. I AM going to get my dream garage. I have saved and scrimped and worked hard and after many years have the money to either move to a larger property with a garage or build a nice big garage at my current place.

BUT...

The reality fairy just walked into my office and told me that if I have the money to buy that new property, I must also have in my bank account the wherewithall to buy something like a nice lighly used Ferrari.

I had not looked at it like that. Just wanted a garage to work on my projects, eh?

Now, I am not really a fan of the Faggy little horse, not a Porch fan either.

But a Lotus Exige Elise? Oh Yeah! I do like that!

But then I would not have the dream garage. I would be stuck with a Miata, a MGBGT,a Bugeye, and a Protege and an Elise.

And a one car garage...


I could get rid of the fleet and try to be happy with just the Lotus!? In a one car garage.

But would I be...?

I am now retrning to my regularily scheduled reality avoidance.

Pete

Peter.

Get a job as a ticket taker with the Toronto Transit Commission. One fella doing that job is now making over $100,000.00 per year.
Kinda nice life, EH!

If you have come by your money by scrimping and saving, then go for the garage and stick with the LBC. Why? Because the garage is (mostly) a one time cost. The exoticars are never ending money pits.

A friend of mine has a BMW M3 (not terribly exotic) that requires $350 oil changes and $100 spark plugs. The exotic cars are also pretty exotic to work on.

Another friend has a Ferrari 360 Modena Spyder - a beautiful car - but I have just as much fun in my MGB as he does (albeit at a more modest speed!).

Reminds me of a lesson my wise ole Daddy taught me. "Son, life is a struggle."
Have Fun

Do the garage!!! Advice is so easy to dispense...

home upgrades usually appreciate, most cars dont...

A very good friend of mine was the Ferrari dealer service manager at FAF in Atlanta. He allowed that there were only two kinds of Ferrari owners. Those who could afford anything at all, anything. And those who could not afford even a basic tune-up on a 308.

Which are you?

Of course, if you've ever done a tune-up on a Fiat, you can do a 308, it just takes 8 times as long.

So who exactly is this "reality fairy"?? I've sort of had a hankering for a new Corvette from time to time. Mostly just a pipe dream. But then again, if I sold off all my old stuff, I might be close...well at least a healthy down payment:) But then I notice that most of the guys I see driving new Corvettes have gray hair and a jacket with checkered flags and the word Corvette enblazened on them. Sort of makes me think they are trying to recapture thier youth but it ain't workin. I'm not ready to go there yet. I can't speak for you but from your posts and that pic in your avatar, I don't think you are either. Next time you see that reality fairy, give em a slap for me!!

omextreme Wrote:

Jim:

I guess the realization is that my long held pipe dream of owning a Lotus Elise could come true. The problem is that I have almost as much tied up in tools as cars, and all these tools would be surplus with no old cars to work on and no big garage to work in!

I plan on going ahead with the garge or property upgrade as planned!

Pete

NOHOME Wrote:

re faggy little horse

an interviewer of Enzo Ferrari noted that Porsche also had a horse as part of their symbol. Ferrari replied that HIS was a stallion, theirs was a mare. <GG>

(so howcome Ferrari quit endurance racing, eh?<G>)

Peter, we aren't exactly blessed with a long driving season up here. The more cars, the less you'll drive each of them...
...a garage however... you can enjoy the whole long miserable Canadian winter.

Greg:

I feel your pain! I am so sick of winter! I need to go visit the GT and see how whe survived the winter. I want to drive to Ancaster.

Peter

Garage. No contest. A mans space. A shop. Ar...r....r..!

Man Cave

NOHOME Wrote:

I've seen some of the work you do - you wouldn't last 6 months without an old rusty car to work on!

I'd build the garage. Time spent working on projects will last as long as you're alive. The thrill of a new car fades afte a few years.

I vote garage! Paul

Garage, then Ferrari. :) You'd be suprised how easy a 308/328 is to work on.

Parts aren't cheap though! ;)

PM me if you're serious about the F-car. :)

Ryan:

I think you have pretty much spoken the truth. I will keep the Lotus Elise in the pipe dream category for now and keep playing with the rusty bits that I drag home to my new garage. I think that by putting this question in front of me, I had to decide if I am in this hobby for the driving experience or the "tinkering". "To thy own self be true"...tinkering is the answer!

Surveyor is comming in two weeks to see if I can fit a 800 sq ft garage in the back yard. I consider that a minimum for a decent shop. If not, will have to look at buying a new house.


Pete

NOHOME Wrote:

Here's how I look at it.

it might be a little biased though, seeing how, I'm in the Real Estate Biz.

I would not just build a large garage on your property, because that in and of itself doesn't really give the best return on your dollar. I would look for a property that has what you need. Your best return will always come if you are the worst house in a good neighborhood, then the best house in a less pretigeous neighborhood.

So, get yourself a realtor (or I can recommend one thru my network) and have him or her find you the home that has all the amenities that you need. Buying property NOW is also a great thing to do, as values are down somewhat.

Now, you may have to put off that Lotus for the time being, but, you would have spent your money very wisely, you will have the garage you want, and in a few years time, as values go up, you'll have lots and lots of equity.

People that own their own homes are 47 times more wealthy than those that don't, and that wealth gets higher and higher as you buy upwards.

Good Luck,

Man, I love that Exige, don't you??? - It'll just be a temporary setback! Maybe you can find a 3 or 4 car garage to house them ALL!

Brian